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Shloka 10

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 181 — Svayaṃvara Aftermath: Arjuna–Karna Exchange and Bhīma–Śalya Contest

ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणीं चैव मिथुनायोपसंगतौ । तौतं वीक्ष्य सुवित्रस्तावकृतार्थोी प्रधावितो,एक दिन भूखसे व्याकुल हो वे अपने लिये भोजनकी तलाश करने लगे। बहुत क्लेश उठानेके बाद उन्होंने देखा कि उस वनके किसी निर्जन प्रदेशमें एक ब्राह्मण और ब्राह्मणी मैथुनके लिये एकत्र हुए हैं। वे दोनों अभी अपनी इच्छा पूर्ण नहीं कर पाये थे, इतनेहीमें उन राक्षसाविष्ट कल्माषपादको देखकर अत्यन्त भयभीत हो (वहाँसे) भाग चले

brāhmaṇaṁ brāhmaṇīṁ caiva mithunāyopasaṅgatau | tau taṁ vīkṣya su-vitrastāv akṛtārthau pradhāvitau ||

“A Brahmin and a Brahmin woman had come together for sexual union. Seeing him, the two—terrified—fled at once, their desire still unfulfilled.”

ब्राह्मणम्a Brahmin (man)
ब्राह्मणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ब्राह्मणीम्a Brahmin woman
ब्राह्मणीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मणी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
मिथुनायfor sexual union/mating
मिथुनाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootमिथुन
FormNeuter, Dative, Singular
उपसंगतौhaving come together/assembled
उपसंगतौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउपसंगत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वीक्ष्यhaving seen
वीक्ष्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवीक्ष्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada
सुवित्रस्तौgreatly terrified
सुवित्रस्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुवित्रस्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
अकृतार्थौwith their purpose unfulfilled
अकृतार्थौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअकृतार्थ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
प्रधावितौran away/fled
प्रधावितौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-धाव्
FormPast passive participle (PPP), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

गन्धर्व उवाच

गन्धर्व (Gandharva narrator/speaker)
ब्राह्मण (a Brahmin man)
ब्राह्मणी (a Brahmin woman)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores how fear and moral disorder arise when a dangerous, unrighteous presence intrudes upon private life; it also hints at the heightened ethical gravity of harming Brahmins, a recurring dharma concern in the epic.

A Brahmin man and woman, having come together for intercourse, see an approaching figure and—terrified—run away before fulfilling their intention.